Traffic signal for vehicles



Jan. 1, 1924 1,479,428

A. J. cooN TRAFFIC SIGNAL FOR VEHICLES Filed April 20. 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FEE'- attoznaq 5.

Jari. 1, 1924` 1,479,428

A. J. COON TRAFFIC SIGNAL FOR VEHICLES Filed Apri; 2o. 1920 2 Stiens-sheet 2 Patented Jan. 1, 1924.

ARTHUR J'. COON, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND. v

TRAFFIC SIGNAL FOR VHCLES.

u Application mea Apru 2o, 1920. semi Npf 375,302.

To all whom t fmayooncem.:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR J. COON, a citizen of the United States, and residing at Providence, Providence County, State of Rhode sland, have Ainvented certain new and useful Improvements in Traffic Signals for Vehicles, specification. u Y

1t is the object otV this invention to provide an improved trat'c signal of the type carried by vehicles, particularly motor vehicles; and by means of which the driver or chaunqeur is enabled to indicate his intention to stop or turn so thatv drivers of nearbyvehicles, and also pedestrians, have warning of the intended maneuver. Many signals of this character have been heretofore designed or suggested but, notwithstanding their ad#v vantages and utility in avoiding accidents, they have not come into general use for various reasons such as high initial cost, inconvenience, and unsightliness.

The particular objects of this invention are to provide such a device whicliis not only inexpensive, convenient, and eiiective in operation, but which is attractive and ornamental in appearance. lFurther objects are; to provide a signal whichis conspicuous atnight as well as in the daytime; which may be operated with a minimum of effort; and which may be readily applied to vehicles of dierent types.

Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings Villustrates in rear elevation a portion of the windshieldof an automobile showingthe improved traffic signal, with indicator extended, attached to its side post;

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section through the signal, the Vindicator being retracted, l

Fig. 3 is a similar view, but showing the indicator extended;`

Fig. 4 is a section on line 4 4 oi? Fig! ure 2; Y

VFig. 5 isan end view of the signal as seen from the right, on line 5.-5, Figure 1;

Fig. 6 isa section on line 6-6 of Figure 3, parts of the mechanism being omitted;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the pulley guide illustrated in Figures 2, 3 and 1;

Fig. 8 is a section on line S-So Figure 1, part beingibroken away; and l Fig. 9 is a plan .view of the bracket b y means of which the signal is attached to the side post of the windshield;

The casing 10 ofthe signal is adjustably of which the following is av secured to the side post 11 ofthe windshield by a substantially L-shaped brackety 12 which is split atuits inner end, as shownk clearly in Figure 9, `the two portions being detachably 11. Bushings 14 ofbronze or Babbitt metal are provided and, in practice, bushings of various sizes are supplied so that the signal may be secured to vehicles having windshield side posts of dierent cross sections. The outer end of bracket 12 is secured to the casing 10 by screw bolts 15, the Shanks of which pass through slots 16 in the bracket, as clearly shown in Figure. By loosening'the bolts 15'7 thevcasing may be tilted for the purpose of bringing the traiiic mirror 17 rigidly secured thereto into proper adjustment for any particular driver or chauffeur.

Normally housed within vthe casing is the extensible indicator 18 whichmay have, as illustrated in the drawings, the outline of a human vhand thereon or some other suitable mark or legend. IThe hand illustrated may be enameled white, and the remainder or the extensible indicator maybe enameledV red so that the device when extendedwill not fail to attract, by its conspicuousness,

the attention' of nearby vehicle drivers and -being a hollow tube fitting outside-of rod 21 and inside of tube 20, and being mov- `able relatively to both indicator V and casing -in the operation of the signal. The outer end of the intermediate section 22 of the lower supporting rod R has secured thereto. a transverse member 23 to which the outer end of a rod 24: is secured,v the inner end secured together byk screw .bolts 13, andenclosing'and gripping the side postfothis rod being attached lto alug` Von the sliding sleeve or member 25 so that the latterV is movable with the intermediate section 22 llO- along tube 20, in the operation ofthe signal. Y

ing its outer end secured to a block 30 ad-Y justably connected to the casing, and its inner end'permanently secured to the lug or partition 26 attached .to the casing 1Q, passesover this pulley and is guided there-Y by. Avsecond cordv 31 has itsVv outer end permanently secured to the sliding" member Y and passes through the inner end of the CII casing and over a pulley 32 and downwardly ythrough vertical tube 33, having its lower end connected to the operating member 34.

This operating member comprises a cylin drical portion fitting within tube 33 and a finger piece extending through a slot in the tube and adapted to be manipulated by the hand in the operation of the signal. A coiled spring 35 is positioned within the cylindrical hollow spring housing 36 secured to the indicator 18, and around the rod 37 which is coaxial with housing 36 and has its inner end secured to the casing 10. This spring is normally under compression and tends to project the indicator from the casing. Y

V'Vhen extended, the operating lmember 34- is at the upper limit of its travel, as illustrated in Figures 'l and 8. To retract the signal, this member is grasped by the lingers or hand and drawn downwardly', whereupon the cord 31 pulls member 25 inwardly along tube 2O and cord 29 draws the signal inwardly at double the ratio of travel of the operating member 34, because of the mechanical action of pulley 28 and cord 29. Vhen in its lowermost position, operating member 34 is slightly rotated so that'its stein is caught under shoulder 38 of the tube in which posit-ion it is' held, restraining the spring 35 from again extending the indicator. If at any time it is desired to extend the indicator, it is only necessary to rotate the operating member `3a laterally to disengage itI from notch 38, whereupon the spring instantly acts to extend the indicator into warningA position.

In order that the 'device may be useful at night, an electric lamp 39 is provided having lead wires 40 connected to a battery or generator on the vehicle. A spring pressed switch member l1 is held out of contact with a fixed contact l2 by an insulated block 413 secured to the indicator, when the indicator is in retracted position. The coiled spring 44, however, constantly tends to throw switch 4:1 into contactwith contact 42 and complete the circuit through the lamp. It will be seen, therefore, that as soon as the indicator is extended, the switch L11 will move outwardly andthe lamp will be lighted, the rays of light therefrom be- Y ing reflected from the inner walls ofv the casing along the sides of' the indicator, soV

that the enameled indicator is clearly illuminated. This enables the device to be used at night with the saine or greater effect, as when used in the daytime.y If desired, portions of the indicator may be transparent or translucent. A Y

The attachment of' this signal to a motor vehicleot'standard type is 'a simple matter and after attachment its adjustment for the purpose of bringing the mirror 17, which is' rigidly secured on its rear face, into Vcorrect position, maybe readily accomto obtain additional advantage in'tliis re-v spect. The signal may be adapted for use l Y with closed cars, so that it may be operated from within the car, by simply changing the construction of thesupporting bracket. It will be obvious also to those skilledin the art thatother changes may be made inV the form and arrangement'of thevvarioujs parts of the invention, whichiis, therefore,

notl limited Yto the exact form illustrated and described. Y Y

Having thus described the Ainvention what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A traffic signal for vehicles cOmPris ing, in combination, a casing adapted to be lic secured to the vehicle, an indicator normally` i housed within said casing, means projecting said indicator without the casing, and means for retracting the saine, said means including;

a movable guide memberand a cord passing over said guide and having` one endattached to the indicator and the other end attached to the casing.

t 2. A traffic signal for vvehicles comprising. v 1n combination, a support adapted to be se- Y 'i cured -to the vehicle, an indicator movably mounted on the support, mea-ns for extending the indicator, and meansffor retracting the same comprisingv an operating member, and mechanism connecting the indicatorfand operating member including a cord and guide therefor whereby Athe indicator is.`

caused to travel a greater dist-ancey than' the operating element is moved. 3. A tiaflic signalfor Vehicles comprising in combination, a support adapted to be secured to the vehicle, an indicator movably mounted on the support, means for extending the indicator, and means for retracting the same comprising an operating member, a guide movably mounted on the support and connected to said operating member, and a cord connected to the support and indicator and passing around said guide.

4. A traiic signal for vehicles comprising in combination, a support adapted to be secured to the vehicle, an indicator movably mounted on the support means for extending the indicator and means for retracting the same comprising an operating member, a guide slidably mounted on the support, a

iexible member connecting the guide and operating member the support and around said guide.

5. A trailic signal for vehicles comprising in combination, a support adapted to be secured to the vehicle, an indicator movably mounted on the support, means for extending the indicator, and means for retracting the same comprising an operating member, a member slidably mounted on said support and bearing a guide pulley, a cord connecting the slidable member and the operating member, and a second cord connected to the support and indicator and passing around said guide pulley.

6. A traffic signal for vehicles comprising, in combination, a casing adapted to be secured to the vehicle, an indicator normally housed within said casing, spring means for projecting said indicator without the casing, means for retracting the same and ho-lding it in retracted position, said means including an operating element adapted to serve as a handle in retracting the indicator and as a latch for releasably locking the indicator in retracted position, and a catch for receiving said operating element when the indicator is in retracted position.

7. A traffic signal for vehicles comprising, in combination` a support adapted to be secured to a vehicle, an indicator movably mounted on Said support, spring means mounted on the support for projecting the indicator laterally, means for retracting the same against the action of the spring and holding it in retracted position, said means inand a cord connected to indicator and passing v cluding -a vertically movable operating element adapted to serve as a handle in retracting the indicator and as a latch for releasably locking the indicator in retracted position, and a catch for receiving said operating element when the indicator is in retracted position. f

8. A traiic signal for vehicles comprising in combination, a support adapted to be secured to the vehicle, an indicator movably mounted on the support, means for extending the indicator, and means for retracting the same comprising an operating member, a member slidable relatively to the support and indicator and carrying a guide pulley, a cord connecting the slidable member and the operating member, and a second cord having one end secured to the indicator and its other end secured to the support and passing around the pulley, whereby the indicator is moved twice the distance that the operating member is moved, in retraction.

9. A traiic signal for vehicles comprising, in combination, a movable indicator, a support adapted to be secured to the vehicle and having top and bottom supporting rods for the indicator, said bottom rod consisting of three telescoping sections one of which is rigidly secured to the support, one rigidly secured to the indicator, and the third section slidable relatively to both support and indicator, means for extending the indicator, and means for retracting the same including an operating member section ofthe bottom supporting rod, a guide movable with said last mentioned section and a cord secured to the support and indicator and passing over the guide.

10. A tratlic signal for vehicles comprising, in combination, a casing adapted to be secured to the vehicle, an indicator adapted to be housed within said casing and to be projected therefrom, means for moving said indicator in one direction, and second means for moving the indicator in the opposite direction, guide member and a cord passing over said guide member and having one end attached to the indicator andthe other end attached to the casing. Y

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

ARTHUR J. COoN.

connected to said third said means including a movable 

